HC grants bail to murder accused: ‘Highly improbable that for Rs 90k, a mother would kill her daughter’

The High Court Bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil allowed the bail plea filed by one Pinki, who was booked on June 21, 2021, under sections 302, 120-B, 182, 34 of IPC, registered at Laddowal police station, Police Commissionerate Ludhiana.

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday (September 15) granted bail to a woman accused of murdering her minor daughter, while stating that it was “highly improbable that for merely Rs 90,000, a biological mother would kill her own daughter”.

The High Court Bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil allowed the bail plea filed by one Pinki, who was booked on June 21, 2021, under sections 302, 120-B, 182, 34 of IPC, registered at Laddowal police station, Police Commissionerate Ludhiana.

Advocate Amandeep Singh Rai, counsel for petitioner, while seeking bail, contended that the accused was the biological mother of the minor and had been nominated as an accused without any incriminating evidence against her. He submitted that the story put forth by the prosecution that the murder of the minor was committed by strangulation with the help of ‘Chunnis’ out of greed for Rs 90,000 — which is the exact amount of the minor’s life insurance policy — was highly improbable, keeping in view the relationship of a mother and a daughter. The defence also contented that the woman had a son aged 6 years. It was further argued that merely on the basis of the confession statement made before the police by the petitioner and co-accused Narinder Pal, the petitioner has been roped as an accused for the offence. Except the postmortem report, which has recorded the cause of death to be asphyxia, which is anti-mortem and sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature, nothing else points the finger of suspicion towards the accused.

The counsel for the state, however, while opposing the bail plea contended that petitioner and her ex-husband Pawan Kumar had purchased one plot of land for Rs 3 lakh on installment and paid Rs 1.49 lakh. They, thereafter, found it difficult to pay the balance amount. It is on this account, and in the greed of getting the money of her daughter’s life insurance policy to the tune of Rs 90000, the couple conspired to kill the minor girl. The prosecution also pointed out that Narinder Pal was the step-father of deceased girl.

The Bench, after hearing both sides, said that it cannot ignore the fact that the petitioner is a biological mother of the deceased and is also having another minor child, aged 6 years. “…the story put forth by the prosecution is not sufficient enough to inspire confidence of this court at least for the purpose of considering the instant petition for regular bail…it is highly improbable that for Rs 90,000, a biological mother would kill her own daughter,” held Justice Moudgil, while allowing bail plea of the woman accused.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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